To think natural Christmas trees are rubbish

[Grindelwaldswand]

Got our first real Christmas tree yesterday and it is useless its 6ft but has massive gaps in between the branches and it can't even hold a bauble on the tip of the branch without falling to the floor i had visions of an amazing tree that would fill the hluse with the smell of pine needles but its scentless. definitely getting a fake tree next year.

The dc love getting the same tree out of the loft, it's become a bit of a ritual, and I know exactly where to put things on it now.

See what I love about our real tree is that every year we have to find a new place to put the decorations and so we can appreciate a different set of decorations each year depending which are most visible. All the decorations are different (no multipack baubles here oh no, although the kids did make a set of salt dough stars a few years ago that are all different colours).

The tradition is DH and the kids go and pick a tree from the best local Christmas tree farm the last Saturday before Christmas. They come home, we put the tree up together, and then I put the delicate glass decorations up high and the kids put the others on the lower branches while DH makes the hot chocolate. It looks lovely and gets lovelier every year now we have lots of decorations made by the kids on the tree as well.

Potted trees are the way to go, no dropped needles and no throwing it away every year. Keep it in the garden throughout the year and keep it watered along with the other potted plants.

We've had ours about 5 years and have repotted it once as it's grown. May give it to a friend next year as it's getting a little too big for the room we keep it in. Just keep it in an outer pot with no holes in when it's inside and keep it watered. Not noticed a single dropped needle in all the time we've had it.

I haven't rtft, but it's ridiculous to think that an artificial tree is more environmentally friendly than a real tree. What on earth do you think the real trees have been doing all this time before they wind up in B&Q? Growing, obviously. In the ground. For about 8 years. Happily soaking up CO2. And what do you think the fake tree is made of? Plastic, from fossil fuels. This is a total no-brainier, particularly if you can recycle the real tree, or get one to stay alive in a pot (I never can!) 🎄

Fake tree here, can't be dealing with hay fever when it freezing outside.

OP, if your tree is really sorry-looking, phone your supplier and complain. If it's a decent supplier (which it probably is given that you had it delivered and it cost £50) they should change it for free.

We had to do that one year (from the local garden centre) and they didn't hesitate.

Not sure what would happen with delivery - we picked it up - but I'd expect them to just charge a small amount for delivery.

According to the news this morning the British grown trees are less bushy this year,something to do with unseasonably mild weather in spring.
I love the smell,the choosing,decorating and filling those gaps.Love that the cats won't climb a real tree.The tree my one extravagance,up a few days before Christmas day and down on 12th night.All we have to do is find the decorations,I know I put them somewhere safe when we moved...

I love real trees and every Christmas I say we are going to get one and then the money thing rears its ugly head and we end up getting our old fake friend out of the garage. It is 20 years old and cost us an absolute fortune, bought in the days when we had more money than sense. Its huge, 8 foot and very wide at the bottom and most people think it is real. Having a Christmas tree scent in my oil burner and a fresh garland of green stuff and red berries from the garden over the mantelpiece helps it along somehow.

I have not seen a fake tree to match it ever. I hate all the ones in the shops atm, they all look really thin and plastic, so despite it's age and a few less fake needles it still looks fabulous.

Maybe if I put a couple of pounds away each week in a tin I'll get my real tree next year.

YABU. Nothing nicer than a real tree. You just committed the rookie mistake of buying the Charlie Brown tree already netted.

You have to go to a tree farm and cut your own down. You will find the perfect one amongst the thousands of exact same others miles and miles back in the plantation. You will only discover that one of the many many dogs accompanying their families on their tree-cutting expeditions has peed up it when you grab a handful of branches to test for needle-fixity. Your DH (who just wants to get home in time for the football and keeps saying so) reckons by that stage that probably ALL the trees have been peed up so let's just get it.

Having sweated and grunted through the actual sawing part (make him do it, don't let him convince you it's fun, it's not, it bloody hard work) you find the tree is now probably a foot shorter than you actually thought but too bad - you broke it now you have to pay for it. On your way back to the barn where you have the tree measured and netted and pay you'll see loads of much nicer ones. You'll swear they weren't there before and your DH will make some sarcastic comment like " yeah, they just rushed out and planted them as soon as our backs were turned." You'll seriously consider ramming the one you're now stuck with dragging behind you on a sled pointy end first up his arse but there'll be lots of people with small dcs around so probably best if you don't.

. It's all worth it when you get it home and in the stand and decorated and the house fills with the aroma of fresh pine. You won't even care that there was an ants nest buried somewhere deep within the foliage until they invade your kitchen and you find them all over your work tops the following morning.

Couple of questions from a real tree buying newbie....we have had real trees at Christmas before but my DM usually got them. What is the difference between Nordmann fir and the other firs, also how about Blue spruce?

Nordman firs hold onto their needles well and are very bushy and wide around the bade, which can be awkward in a small space. They have less scent.

Norway Spruce is the old-fashioned Christmas tree. The needles are spiky, and fall off the tree quite easily. It smells glorious. It is generally the cheapest sort.

They are the two types of tree which you will find everywhere.

I like the Fraser fir, which, like the Nordman, keeps its needles and isn't spiky. It has a narrower shape and a stronger smell which is piney but also a bit citrusy.

I don't know about the Blue spruce.

Baylisiana Thu 08-Dec-16 22:33:19
Couple of questions from a real tree buying newbie....we have had real trees at Christmas before but my DM usually got them. What is the difference between Nordmann fir and the other firs, also how about Blue spruce?

i get the norway spruce it smells lovely but the needles do drop but to help prevent this you need to cut 2cm off the bottom and regularly top up with water.We also place ours over a large decorative sheet to catch the needles.That way after christmas it can be bundled up for the dump.

The other trees have softer needles we prefer the spikier trees as our cats dont like climbing a spiky tree

Thank you! Have taken screen shots of your advice for the weekend!

Fraser fir sounds rather nice.

I've got my first real tree this year - a potted one - and I love it, but I did take my time choosing it and saw it unwrapped before I took it home.